- Scott sled
__NOTOC__A Scott Sled is a type of kite developed in the early 1960s by Frank Scott of
Ohio and based on an earlier design by William Allison, [ [http://www.users.on.net/~maxtmp/kite/Pagealis.htm allison flexible kite ] ] also based in Ohio. In1964 it was featured in 'Kite Tales' the newsletter of the American Kitefliers Association, as a result it became much more widely known. A large number of derivative designs have appeared since then, the design described here is as it appeared in 1964.Allison patented his kite in 1956, Scott never did. Allison won a civil cease and desist order against the Scott family after it had made and sold millions of kites. [http://www.drachen.org/journals/a09/Historian-Responds-on-sled-kite-issue.pdf]
The design is known for its ease of construction, sturdiness, light weight, portability, stability, and good performance. It's a sort of scoop-shaped parachute, held open by parallel spars. Most of the shape of the kite is produced by the pressure of the wind.
Description
The cover is made of polyethylene sheet about 0.0015 inches thick. Three vertical spars are taped to the cover. These spars are wooden dowels 1/8 or 3/16 inch in diameter. A two-legged bridle is used, one leg taped to the each side of the cover. The length of this bridle is between 6 and 9 feet long. Care is taken to make sure each leg is of the same length.
This kite type has continued to evolve, generally with only two spars. Vents are shaped differently, sometimes more vents or none at all. They are just called 'sled kites'.
Notes
References
cite book
last = Newman | first = Lee Scott | coauthors = Jay Hartley Newman
title = Kite Craft
date = 1974 | pages = 195-197 | isbn = 0-517-514710cite book
last = Greger | first = Margaret
title = Kites for Everyone
date = 1984 | pages = 48-49 | isbn = 0-9613680-0-4cite book
last = Editors of Consumer Guide
title = Create-A-Kite
date = 1977 | pages = 46-48 | isbn = 0-671-22883-8cite book
last = Eden | first = Maxwell
title = Kiteworks
date = 1989 | pages = 110-111 | isbn = 0-8069-6713-7External links
* [http://www.users.on.net/~maxtmp/kite/f-scott.html Flexible Sled Kites: Frank Scott's Design]
* [http://www.geocities.com/p_leriche/scott Plan for a Scott Sled kite]
* [http://www.blueskylark.org/zoo/single/sled Sled kites at the Virtual Kite Zoo.]
* [http://members.aol.com/GEngvall/k_sled.html How to make a Sled Kite from a Kinko's Bag.]Sled-kite patents
* [http://www.google.com/patents?id=ip9aAAAAEBAJ FLEXIBLE KITE William M. Allison. US Patent: 2737360 Filing date: Sep 8, 1950]
* [http://www.google.com/patents?id=DkM8AAAAEBAJ SELF-STIFFENED FLEXIBLE KITE David M. Checkley]
* [http://www.google.com/patents?id=G5AzAAAAEBAJ Kite having high lift to drag ratio Warren O. Weathers]
* [http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT4018408 Concave parabolic arch kite Peter J. Pearce et al]
* [http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT4129272 Aerofoil structure Andrew W. Jones et al]
* [http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT4243191 Hooded kite John W. Loy]
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